Illuminated dome dispenser



Nov. 3, 1959- o. R. SCHEURER 2,91 1,520

ILLUMINATED DOME DISPENSER Filed Jan. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Shet 1 OTTO.R.SCHEURER INVENTOR.

BYMMW ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 o. R. SCHEURER ILLUMINATED DOME DISPENSER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1956 FIG. 3

OTTO R. SCHEURER INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent ILLUMINATED DOMEDISPENSER Otto R. Scheurer, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to TokheimCorporation, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana ApplicationJanuary 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,709

8 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to an illuminated domedispenser. More specifically it relates to a dispenser of the typeemployed in automobile filling stations which is fitted with atranslucent plastic dome, which may be suitably colored and which isinteriorly lighted by means of a number of electric lamps which are soarranged as to provide a relatively uniform fighting of the dome.

It is an object of the invention to provide a translucent dome which ismade of plastic material which is reinforced to give added strength andshape retaining ability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a translucent dome ofplastic material which includes a material which renders it fireproof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a translucent dome ofthermosetting resin which is reinforced with glass fibers.

Yet another object is to provide means to support electric lamps beneathor inside of said dome so as to light, substantially uniformly, theportions of the dome which are exposed to view.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dome plate for thedispenser which supports the electric lamps in spaced relation and insuch relationship with respect to the dome that it will be substantiallyuniformly lighted.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of thisspecification and the drawings which are attached hereto, made a parthereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper exterior portion of thedispenser showing the dome in place.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, with parts broken away showing the domeplate, lamp support and lamps in their relative positions.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 ofFigure 3 showing the means for mounting the dome and trim on the domeplate.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the dome.

Referring first to Figure 1, the numeral 1 represents the front or dialpanel of the housing, 3 the nozzle side panel in which is mounted thenozzle boot 5, and 7 is the reset side panel.

From Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the frame of the dispensercomprises four corner angle posts 9 which are fixed in a base (notshown) and the dome plate 11 is attached at its corners to the top endsof the angles by suitable bolts 13.

As seen in Figure 2 the dome plate is formed with two abutment portions15 which are attached to the ends of the posts 9 and a narrower andrelatively shallow bridging portion 17 which rises above the portions15. The bridging portion has a central, substantially square fiat areadefined by the lines 19. This area has a round central opening 21surrounded by four holes through which are passed the cap screws 23which support the junction box 25.

A conduit 27 for electric wires connects the junction box with a switchbox 29 from Which extends a switch operating shaft 31. Current issupplied to the switch (not shown) in box 29 through wires which aredrawn through conduit 3-3.

A boss 35 formed on the box to receive a plug 37.

. A pair of tapped bosses 39 extend from opposite sides of the box 25 ata slight upward angle and receive a nipple or conduit 41. The other endof each nipple carries a Y-shaped fitting 43 which has two lamp sockets45 which lie substantially in the same plane but extend outwardly awayfrom the dome plate at about an angle of 140 (including angle A).

The lamps 47 which are mounted in the sockets thus extend upwardly andoutwardly from the box 25'to illuminate the dials 49 which are mountedbelow the lamps and to light .the dome which is mounted above the lamps:

The wires from the lamp sockets are drawn into the box 25 and outthrough the boss 35 as are the Wires from conduit 27. The properconnections are made, the wires are tucked into the box and the plug 37is inserted and drawn tight to render the box explosionproof.

As shown particularly in Figures 2and 4, the holes 51 formed in theflanges 53 of the abutment portions 15 of the dome plate receive bolts55 for mounting brackets 57 which extend substantially perpendicular tothe flanges and at their outer ends are welded to rails 59 which have atop flange 61 which is offset outwardly from a bottom flange 63. Theends of the rails are' curved inwardly as at 65 to conform to thecurvature of the dial panels 1.

The upper flange 61 is provided with a series of perforations 67 toreceive bolts 69 which have their heads confined in a way 71 formed in atrim strip 73 which extends parallel to the rail and has a slot 74 topass the bolts A gasket 76 also extends parallel to is perforated topassthe bolts.

The dome which is indicated by the numeral also the trim strip and has aseries of perforations 77 which are aligned with those in the rail, toreceive the bolts 69.

.The bolts 69 pass through the gasket, the holes in the dome, and flange61 to hold the strip,v gasket, dome and rail together. j

The upward and outward extension of the lamp sock-v ets, as describedabove, and the position of the trim strip. are so related that thefilaments of the lamps 47 which are mounted in the sockets will bepositioned near but be-. low the upper edge of the trim strip to preventdirect horizontal exposure of the filaments through the adjacent flangeof the dome.

The dome, as is shown in Figure 5, is cut away at 79 to conform with thecurvature of the side housings and a U-edging 81 of synthetic rubber orother suitable material is installed on the edge of the dome so as toseal the joint between the dome and the side housing against rain, dust,etc.

The dome is preferably made by forming a mat of' glass fibers in theform of fiber glass roving in the gen eral form of the dome andthereafter impregnating the mat with a resin such as the polyester resinknown to the trade as Heatron No. 93. The plastic contains a suitablecoloring material and up to 3% by weight of antimony trioxide to renderit slow burning.

After the mat is formed it is cured under heat and pressure in suitabledies. The minimum glass content of the dome is preferably 20% by volumeto give it the strength required to withstand the impact of hall, atemperature range of plus 225 F. to minus 85 F. and

. other severe conditions.

25 is bored and tapped As will be seen from Figures 1 and the top of thedome is formed along arcs of long radius on the order of 40 to 60inches, said arcs intersecting at right angles. One group of 'a'rcs isdisposed parallel to the dial panels and the other group is disposedparallel to the side panels.

Further as will be seen from Figure 3, the dome dial panel flanges 83and dome side panel flanges 85 follow long radius arcs on the order ofabout 55 inches, described about a vertical axis. The top and flanges aswell as the flanges themselves are connected by arcs of shorter radius,on the order of 1 inches.

It will be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that the dome and lamps 47 are sopositioned that all four lamps will shed light on the underneath surfaceof the dome. The side end and top portions of the dome parallel the dialpanels are substantially uniformly lighted by the two lamps adjacentthereto.

While a less evenly lighted area appears at the top of the dome andextends toward the flanges 85 this does not detract from the appearanceof the dispenser'since it is out of the view of the customer beingserved who usually observes the dispenser from a relatively low leveland from a position in front of or in front of and to one side of thedial. From such positions only the well lighted portions of the dome arevisible to him.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structureand arrangement of parts of the specific embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein for purposes of illustration, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire tobe limited to such specific embodiments but desires protection fallingfairly within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A liquid dispenser having a frame, and a housing surrounding saidframe including a pair of oppositely disposed dial panels and a pair ofoppositely disposed side panels positioned between said dial panels,means for removably attaching the dial panels to the frame, a domehaving depending dial panel flanges adjacent and extending substantiallyparallel to the upper ends of said panels, means for connecting each ofthe dial panel flanges to said frame, comprising brackets attached tosaid frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a rail fixed to the outerends of said brackets so as to lie substantially parallel to and closelyadjacent the lower, inner portion of the corresponding dial panelflange, a trim strip disposed on the exterior of said dial panel flange,extending generally parallel to the lower portion thereof and extendingdownwardly beyond the edge thereof into overlapping engagement with theupper end of the corresponding dial panel so as to seal the jointtherebetween and means for fastening said trim strip, and dome sidepanel flange to said rail.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said last mentionedfastening means includes bolts having their heads mounted in said trimstrip and their shanks extending through perforations in said dome andrail for fastening the strip and dome to said rail.

3. The structure defined by claim 2 wherein a gasket strip is clamped bysaid bolts, between said dome dial panel flange and trim strip to sealthe joint therebetween.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a frameincluding corner posts, a dome plate comprising two abutment portionshaving the outer corners thereof attached to two corresponding cornerposts and a narrower bridge portion merging at its ends with theabutment portions, a junction box mounted centrally on said bridgeportion, a conduit extending from each side of said box, laterally ofsaid bridge portion, a pair of lamp sockets mounted on each conduit, theaxis of the sockets extending in substantially opposite, substantiallyhorizontal directions with respect to said conduits, electric lampsmounted in said sockets, a translucent dome having depending flangesadapted to encompass said dome plate and lamps and means for mountingsaid dome on said frame.

5. The structure defined by claim 4 wherein the axes of the lamp socketsform a Y with the axis of the conduit.

6. The structure defined by claim 4 wherein said bridge portion isdisposed at a level above that of the abutment portions and the axes ofsaid lamp sockets are disposed in a plane which extends upwardly andoutwardly with respect to the horizontal plane which includes the axisof the conduit, to distribute light over a greater area of said dome.

7. The structure defined by claim 5 wherein a dial is mounted verticallyand substantially parallel to and in outwardly spaced relation withrespect to said bridge portion, the included angle of said Y being suchthat at least a portion of the filament of each lamp will lie outwardlybeyond its associated dial so as to illuminate same.

8. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said means for mounting thedome includes a trim strip which extends above the lower end of the domeflange and wherein said conduit is disposed at a level below the levelof said trim strip, the axes of the lamp sockets on one side beingdisposed in a plane which extends upwardly and outwardly with respect toa horizontal plane which includes the axis of said conduit to positionthe filaments of said lamps near but below the upper edge of said trimstrip to prevent direct horizontal exposure of said filaments throughthe flange of said dome.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,732,208 Wirth Oct. 15, 1929 1,929,776 Faber Oct. 10, 1933 2,297,851Wyss Oct. 6, 1942 2,513,268 Steinman June 27, 1950 2,542,827 Minter Feb.20, 1951 2,692,808 Marsh Oct. 26, 1954 2,723,341 Greenspan Nov. 8, 19552,749,429 Wavell June 5, 1956 2,770,711 Baranowski Nov. 13, 19562,799,954 Donnelley et a1 July 23, 1957

